Road contractors are continuing to work hard across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highway network in the lead up to the Easter and Anzac Day holiday period.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and its contractors are completing an ambitious programme to improve safety and resilience of the network, says Cara Lauder, Waikato System Manager, Maintenance and Operations.

"However like many other workplaces, contractors are experiencing Covid-19 cases amongst their workforces, which may cause plans to change at short notice,

"Waka Kotahi takes seriously our responsibilities for the safety of our staff, contractors and members of the public. All worksites have comprehensive Covid-19 protocols and work plans in place for the various Covid-19 traffic light settings and Omicron phases, which are strictly adhered to.

"Our contractors have also undertaken extensive planning to make sure essential maintenance can continue on Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highways so they remain safe. However, there may be some disruption to other planned works.

"We are also experiencing less favourable weather conditions; whilst this has been most notable on the East Coast, any sustained periods of wet weather will likely prevent resealing works taking place as expected.

"We thank people for their patience as we support our contractors to manage the health and safety of their workforces while continuing to ensure the state highway network remains safe for all those who use it."

Check the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website (journeys.nzta.govt.nz) before you travel for up-to-date information.

Bay of Plenty

Tauranga

• Takitimu North Link Stage One: Enabling works continue on Wairoa Road and Minden Road, with service relocations taking place and stop/go traffic management in place. A diversion road at Wairoa Road will be live by the end of the week. Shoulder closures will be in place throughout the week on Cambridge Road while Powerco work takes place, stop/go traffic management is planned for Saturday 2 and Wednesday 6 April, between 9am and 3pm, with minor delays expected. On SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road a reduced speed limit of 80km/hr will be in place while service relocation works take place. More information.
• SH2 Waihi Road Overbridge: The Waihi Road overbridge will be closed between 6pm and 5:30am on Sunday 3 April, to allow the removal of a damaged gantry and associated directional signage. Detour via Waihi Road, Cambridge Road, Sterling Gate Drive and Beaumaris Boulevard.

A further closure will take place in the near future to replace the gantry and sign.

• SH2 Hewletts Road: As part of the Totara Street cycleway project, night works will take place from late April through to June 2022, from 8pm to 5am each night between Tasman Quay and Totara Street. Eastbound traffic will be reduced to one lane through the intersection. Minimal delays are expected. More information.

• SH2 Bay Link: State Highway 2 at the Bayfair roundabout will be closed from 7pm to 7am on Friday 8 April and Saturday 9 April to allow beams for two spans of the four-span flyover to be lifted into place. Lane closures and detours differ each night; on both nights, lane closures will be in place on all approaches to the Bayfair roundabout to manage traffic flows. If this work is impacted by weather or other unforeseen issues, it will be carried out on the next available weekend. More information.
• SH29 Tauriko West: Investigation works to provide the information needed for the next steps of the Tauriko West enabling works are underway and expected to take place through to early-May 2022. Works will mostly take place overnight between 7pm and 6am, with generally one active work site at any time. It is expected that most works will be completed over one to two nights at each location. This will include topographical surveys, locating buried services, and geotechnical investigations to determine the ground conditions. The investigations will generate some noise due to the machinery and equipment used, and will involve the use of temporary lighting. Traffic management will include shoulder and lane closures. More information.
• SH29 Kaimai: Tree felling will be undertaken between Soldiers Road and Old Kaimai Road on Sunday 3 April, between the hours of 5am and 4pm. Stop/stop traffic management will be in place periodically while trees are being felled. A 30km/h temporary speed limit will be in place.

Asphalt patching work will take place on Thursday 7 April between Thorn Road and Poripori Road, from 7am until 5pm. One lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction, with a temporary speed limit. On Friday 8 April chipsealing will take place in the same area between 7pm and 6am. Stop/go traffic management will be in place, and a temporary speed limit will be in place for up to 48 hours afterwards. Delays of up to 15 minutes are to be expected during this time.

Western Bay of Plenty

• SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: Safety improvement works continue at four active sites: between Athenree Road and Tanners Point Road, Rea Road / Tetley Road intersection, Lund Road to Sargent Drive and Apata Station Road to Esdaile Road. Minor delays are expected.

Tetley Road is temporarily closed between SH2 and Rereatukahia Pā Road for approximately two months. Detour routes are available, and only add a couple of minutes to the overall travel time. Please follow detour signage. More information.

• SH2 Katikati: Tree felling will be undertaken by Powerco contractors between Beach Road and Lindemann Road on Sunday 3 April, between the hours of 6am and 3pm. Stop/go traffic management will be in place, along with a 30km/h temporary speed limit.

Rotorua

• SH5 Tarukenga to Ngongotahā: Barrier installation is underway between Dalbeth Road to just north of the golf course. Traffic management will be in place. These works are expected to be complete in April 2022. More information.
• SH30 Te Ngae Road, Basley Road to Coulter Road: Service location for SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two is underway. Traffic management will be in place. More information.
• SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Safety improvement upgrade work continues on the section north of Pareteiro - Sun Valley Curve passing lane. This includes widening the shoulders, installing a wide centreline and installing roadside safety barriers. More information.

Eastern Bay of Plenty

• SH2 Edgecumbe: Asphalt resurfacing will take place on the eastbound lane of SH2 between Puriri Crescent and College Road, between Sunday 3 April and Sunday 10 April. Work will take place between 6pm and 6am, with stop/go traffic management in place. A temporary speed limit will be in place throughout the day while this work is completed.
• SH2 Waioeka Gorge: HPMV strengthening work on four bridges in the Waioeka Gorge continues, and is expected to be complete in early-April 2022. The bridges are Owhiritoa Stream Bridge, Omaukora Bridge, Gibson Bridge and Sandys Bridge. Bridge crossing restrictions apply to heavy freight vehicles.
• SH35 Raukokore River Bridge: Bridge repairs have taken place; the bridge is open to traffic with the ‘80% of Class 1' weight restriction lifted for 50MAX and Heavy General Access Vehicles. Heavy vehicles remain restricted to the posted speed limit of 10km/h while crossing the bridge, and all other vehicles will be temporarily speed restricted to 30km/h until mid-April, while steel plates remain on the bridge deck to protect the repaired areas. More information.

Tairāwhiti

• SH35 Tairāwhiti: Following recent weather events SH35 remains closed between Tokomaru Bay and Te Puia Springs. Access is expected to be restored prior to Easter.

Road users can expect slips and uneven road surfaces along the East Cape from Tokomaru Bay down to Napier, and inland on SH5 and SH38.